PZT piston driven hydraulic pump development

Piezoelectric materials operated at high frequency and large electric field can produce very high power densities. The difficulty with utilizing this power density in motor applications is the very small stroke produced by piezoelectrics. Stroke rectification is implemented to obtain a high power density device. This has been accomplished using a piston driven hydraulic pump. Rectification of fluid power is obtained using check valves. Details of the design and characterization of the resulting pump are presented. The thermodynamic cycle of a piezoelectric stack actuator in a piezo-pump application is also illustrated.